Freshmen Well Prepared, 6000 Expected

OHIO STATE'S FRESHMAN CLASS IS WELL-QUALIFIED ACADEMICALLY

     COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University's incoming freshman 
class has outstanding academic credentials.

     About 6,000 freshmen are expected to begin classes on the 
Columbus campus Sept. 25.  About 170 of them were valedictorians  
-- having the top grades of their high school classes.  There 
were 150 valedictorians last year.

     Around 520 freshmen have been designated as University 
Scholars.  University Scholars have ACT scores of at least 29 out 
of a possible 36 or SAT scores of at least 1300 out of a possible 
1600.  Most graduated in the top 3 percent of their high school 
classes.  Last year, 406 incoming students were University 
Scholars.

     In addition, the class has an average ACT score that is 
significantly higher.  The incoming class averaged 23.4 on the 
ACT, up from the 22.8 average earned by last autumn's freshmen 
and 20.8 nationally.

     "Our goal is to improve the academic quality of the 
incoming class," said James Mager, assistant vice president for 
enrollment management.  National and Ohio State studies show 
better prepared students stay in college and graduate more 
quickly.

     The overall academic improvement is especially impressive 
since the class is larger than expected.  Ohio State staff had 
predicted 5,850 would choose to enter the university.  Instead, 
more than 6,000 accepted and attended orientation this summer.

     "The official numbers won't be available until Oct. 7, but 
the number of students accepting admission is greater than we 
expected," Mager said.

     The overall enrollment, however, will remain steady at about 
48,500 undergraduate, graduate and professional students because 
adjustments were made in the number of transfer students 
admitted, Mager explained.

     When Ohio State realized last May that more than the 
expected number of freshmen were enrolling, the admissions staff 
adjusted by accepting fewer transfer students from other 
universities.

     "This year, we expect about 200 fewer transfer students," 
Mager said.  There were 2,660 transfer students in 1995-96.

     Administrators began a plan to stabilize student numbers 
about five years ago.  The stabilization is of benefit in several 
ways:

  It helps make sure students receive the best education 
Ohio State has to offer, because classes are less crowded 
and fewer undergraduates are closed out of courses.

  It better matches Ohio State's resources, which have been 
reduced by state budget cuts and early retirement of 
faculty and staff.

  It strengthens the university's efforts to provide more 
and better services to its undergraduates, as recommended 
by the Committee on the Undergraduate Experience.  For 
instance, half as many students share suites in Lincoln 
and Morrill towers.  Now there are only two students per 
room.

     The mix of students enrolled at Ohio State continues to 
diversify.  "We expect increased numbers in all minority 
groups," Mager said.

     A recent analysis shows the university's minority enrollment 
has risen since 1986, doubling in two of the four categories.  
The percentage of undergraduates who are African-American rose 
from 4.6 percent to 7.1 percent.  The Hispanic community doubled, 
from .9 percent to 1.8 percent.  Asian-American numbers rose even 
more dramatically, from 2 percent to almost 5 percent.  The 
number of American Indians rose from 60 students to 110, an 
increase to .31 percent of the total undergraduate enrollment.

     "There is always the desire to enroll a larger percentage, 
but the 10-year trend is impressive," Mager said.

                             #

Contact: James Mager at (614) 292-3474 or mager.1@osu.edu.


[Submitted by: Von Reid-Vargas (ereid@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu)
               
Mon, 16 Sep 1996 12:43:29 -0400]
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